Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 38: Caine: The Price of Stealing

CAINE

"No! I didn’t. She—she wouldn’t let me get near her. I swear it, High Alpha."

Fenris growls low in my head, but Jack-Eye’s hand grasps my shoulder, squeezing hard. "Caine," he says. Just my name, but his tone is full of warning.

I killed the last Alpha. Killing his successor is going to bring more trouble and headache. These are all facts I understand, but my brain is screaming, howling for a blood payment to ease my rage.

"That girl is mine," I whisper, forcing my clenched fingers to relax. The moment tension is released, his face slams to the ground again, still victim to my dominance.

Kill him, Fenris says, as if he wasn’t the one to force a promise of pacifism out of me earlier.

I shake my head, fighting to clear the red haze of bloodlust clouding my vision. The struggle is visceral—a war between my baser instincts and whatever shred of civility I’ve managed to maintain since ascending the Lycan’s throne.

It hasn’t been this hard since... A long time ago, in memories I refuse to recall.

My foot comes down on Raphael’s outstretched hand. Not an accident. Not a mistake. A deliberate, calculated expression of my fury.

Tiny bones crunch beneath my heel, bringing me a sliver of satisfaction, though my face remains blank.

Raphael grunts, jaw clenched tight, fighting to maintain dignity through the pain.

I’m not satisfied with this small display. Digging my heel in deeper, I grind against already fractured bones. Something inside me—something darker than even my normal temperament—wants to hear him break completely.

a high, shrill scream, I feel the barest hint of

voice drops low, barely above a whisper. The question hangs in

he groans. "She’s yours,

his voice calms the savage beast clawing at my chest, at least enough to lift my foot

against the dirt I wonder if they’re still breathing. Others tremble visibly. Terror and fury mix in a bitter, pungent

hands off the

so

of my consciousness. A detail I’ve missed. I scan the gathering again, more carefully this

a glaring oversight for a succession ceremony. While it isn’t required, it is certainly unusual for a beta-less

choice of beta died, but it’s a potential sign of trouble, leaving me uneasy. Especially when I also realize the scent from the girl’s room, the strange wolf who’d challenged

Fenris.

call, the tattoos on my skin burning as he materializes beside me,

the girl," I order him,

doesn’t hesitate, bolting toward the main building with supernatural speed. The sight of him—manifested

bring his face level with mine. His eyes

visited Grace tonight?" My voice is calm now, almost conversational. The contrast to my earlier rage probably makes it all the

again, with a

feel my subordinates standing with him, but they remain silent, probably disapproving. I’m bringing more trouble and work onto my shoulders, but it’s impossible to hold back the rage in

off, and I shake his head until his gaze meets mine again. "Who is it, Alpha Raphael? Which of your people

one," he says,

Lie, lie, LIE.

grab his jaw, forcing him to maintain eye contact. "After what just happened to your hand, you’re still lying to me, you